I've suggested before that the GCN guys can do a relay an IM relay. Conor swims well. Ollie or Si can do a 180k TT. Someone just has to take one for the team and do a marathon (sounds like a Hank challenge).
@@AlistairLattimore It was 65. So he could drop something like 5min quite quickly. 3min easily off alone for not running at speeds where its easy to talk in :D
I’ve been a keen cyclist for 40 years. I’ve tried running, several times. Heaven knows I’ve tried. If I could give an analogy; if cycling is walking down the stairs, running is throwing yourself off the top step and hitting each one on the way down.
Love Ollie ❤ I switched to running from road biking after my kid was born due to time constraints. Exactly as Ollie says, the engine is strong but body is not ready in the beginning, very easy to run yourself into an injury.
Yup what I did, and it worked fine, running is awesome! But it can feel disheartening in the beginning. Now just started training for my first ultra after doing a HM and can confidently say I'm a runner now.
Same here. It's much easier to squeeze in a run than a ride. However, if you are training for an ultra, you are at the same place again. It needs a lot of time to do those long runs.
Same happened to me earlier this year. Being a dad is awesome but it doesn't leave much space for long rides, which is why I now run much more than I cycle. Glad to hear someone else's going through this as well :)
Same. I competed in cycling, stopped because my bike was stolen. Then I kept with just regular gym trainings and Muay Thai. Then I started running, did quite good, 5k in 23:47 but I could feel like if I kept going without training specifically for it, I would end up injuring myself
I once was like Ollie, always getting dropped when the group ride hit a hill, thinking running is just to get to your bike faster which is nonsense because it's next to my bed anyways. But I started running last year, got serious this year and it does wonders. Lost 10kg since my 105kg christmas high and feeling stronger than ever when cycling. Anyways, looking forward to the whole canal run.
Same here. I started running a bit less than 2 years ago, and I hated it at the beginning, but love it now. Now I'm 25 kg lighter, and faster on the bike as well.
As a cyclist who has avoided running for years I'm reluctantly on week 4 of a 6 week C25k after my partner signed me up for a 5k, running feels like so much effort my muscles are just not used to it. The position on a bike is so hunched over compared to stretched out running and i think your ligaments and tendons take a beating. Despite riding over 10h a week and advice of "you can run a 5k easy" i decided to build up slowly and im so glad that i have. Once my legs are stronger at running it can only help my cycling?
Been there.. had been doing quite a bit of riding, but then was asked about doing a 70.3 IM. Hadn't run at all in more years than Ollie mentioned, so first was maybe half a mile. Next day calves were so tight was hard to walk. Now, would just as soon go out and run a 5k than ride for an hour or 2 and have done a number of half marathons and a few 70.3's. It will get better.. as they say no more than ~10% increases and easy runs easy :)
As a guy who avoided running due to my size, I actually really enjoyed it once I'd put in the slow buildup to get decently good at it. I was never really fast, but at a fairly lean bodyweight of 100kg (I'm genuinely just a big guy) I was pushing 5min/km pace for up to 20km on my weekly run to the office before work, and maybe 5:30 at half Ironman distance or marathon distance for just the run.
When I start mixing running in between my cycling it tends to drop my FTP pretty considerably - like 20 watts… but running gets me to a threshold heart rate and makes me hold it for longer than cycling so I mix in in every few months.
You can alway count on Ollie to be open minded enough to change his beliefs when presented to new data. Must be the scientist in him. Also, no one complains as spectacularly as Dr Oliver Bridgewood.
I ran that route when I was in Bath last April. Fuck me, if there is one route in the moral universe that would make you at least suspend doubt about the virtues of running, this is it 😊.
Running is a lot of “bang for your buck”, plus simple, and strangely addictive, but definitely emphasis on the “bang” as in brutal battering of your body and knees compared to cycling and swimming
I agree with all of Ollies points about running (vs cycling), but I still prefer to do both. Mostly because sometimes I just have an hour or so, and for cycling that just feels like it's not even close to being enough, but it's a decent time for an easy run or you can do a harder structured workout too. And while you might not get injured as easily while cycling, but there are other issues, mainly equipment issues that you just don't get when running. I rotate like 7 pairs of shoes, so even if I were to destroy one pair suddenly, I'd just use the other ones and replace the destroyed one when I get a chance. But with bike stuff, it takes time and effort to replace parts and stuff, especially since I live in Finland where certain bike parts can be tricky to find or just crazy expensive. I usually end up ordering the parts from Germany and it can mean like a week of waiting plus the time it takes for me to actually get to work on the bike. And if I need to take the bike to a shop to get fixed, it's usually 2-4 week wait times in my experience. And the worst thing was when I broke the X-dial from my Northwave cycling shoes. It was a bitch to try to even find a shop that would ship to Finland, and I paid like three times more for the shipping than what the dials and laces cost. Probably not a problem for GCN presenters who have tens of bikes and a box full of old Dura-Ace parts lying around the garage. Also, a Finland thing, but we have a lot of bad weather here, like the 6 month winters and stuff. I do ride all year, but doing proper cycling workouts in the winter is just not possible for me, and even when it's just raining, I prefer to go for a run rather than get my bike all dirty.
I liked Ollie's comment about being time poor. I used to run until I had an injury following a MTB crash and now all I can do is cycle. Hope to be back to running soon. Run the length of the canal and ride up one side down the other see who comes first.
I like my phone and playing my videogames. But oh man, cycling is a lot of fun, I miss the times I competed in cycling, or just used to ride for fun, before my bike was stolen… running is doing fine for me now, been competing for half a year. I started cycling as a way to fight depression, I hope your son doesn’t have to go through anything of this sort but soon realizes how fun it is and what he’s been missing away from his phone. Now I’m going to the gym, running, fighting Muay Thai, intend to start swimming again and then, buying a new bike to start cycling again and maybe by the end of next year, try my luck at a triathlon, even if it’s a half one. Hope your son soon realizes how good cycling and other sports can be for him. Once he sees all the capabilities of his body, his evolution, he’ll really get addicted to it and probably will even feel bad when some sickness hit and some progress is lost. Best part, that doesn’t mean he’ll have to drop away his phone, though most likely he’ll naturally do it himself, most of the time anyways
I can't run, but before ebiking, my "thing" was hiking locally with two hiking poles to help me. What I didn't like is that when I took a break, I just stopped. On a bike you get to coast. Descending hills with your legs works different muscles just as hard as going up. On a bike, the coasting is the reward for all the effort to get to the top.
Running was my thing thru college, then it shared my time with cycling into my early 30s, but it seemed like I was always recovering from some running injury: feet, soleus, calf, knee, lower back, ugh. This vid got the little voice inside my head saying "give it another go (again)" despite my experience telling me it always ends with me saying "NEVER AGAIN!"
Ollie - no SOCKs? 😯 Obviously a closet triathlete... (On a serious note, I'm a runner, but I do as much cycling as running these days, post-cancer treatment, to keep the CV fitness up. Both running and cycling are improving rapidly as a result.)
Just been for a 5k run after a looooooong absence. Years. Felt horrible! But looking forward to being back up to fitness. Going for 2 runs per week, then 3 when I can manage it
I think it's good to have a sport/fitness activity that you don't really care too much about, and for me that's running. If STRAVA is anything to go by I'm a pretty good (although very much amateur) cyclist, and if I want to stay that way (and I do), that adds a certain pressure and comes with the requirement to do things I don't really feel like doing sometimes. As a runner, I kind of SUCK, but because I don't really care to not suck, It's not really possible for me to have a "bad run" or "waste a session".
I used to be a pure cyclist who recently got into triathlon. I used to think that running is rubbish and not fun. Although I'm running now, my thoughts haven't changed. 😂 Running does break the monotony of cycling training, though. Plus, it's a survival skill like swimming, so it might come in handy one day. 😂
I relate to Ollie. Even with okay base aerobic (I can cycle 100k or swim around 1k) running put my heart rate in zone 4 or 5 very quickly at what still felt like a slow running pace on a couch to 5k style run walk strategy. So, okay, I learnt more about form and listened to all advice to slow it down, and after some more runs managed to finally do 4-minute run blocks at just over walking pace, which did feel satisfying, but that gave me a knee niggle, so I’m taking a couple of weeks off running now. Here’s a question for any experts: For my first few runs at the slowest pace that still felt like running I managed 1-minute run blocks, and built it up to 2-minute run blocks, and some soreness but no worrying strains on my knees, ankles, or calves. It was only when I did 4-minute run blocks at a very, very slow pace that it strained my knee a bit. So, just about avoiding injury and not about aerobic, would it be better to carry on with shorter 1 or 2-minute run blocks at a slow running pace, or do the 4-minute run blocks at the very very slow pace almost shuffling. Btw, I’m not overstriding and I’m a toe to midfoot striker not a heal striker. My only goal, with no rush to get there, is just to be able to run 5k without stopping at any pace, no matter how slow.
I stopped running for the third time this year. Last Friday I did a quick bike ride, about 15-20 minutes and it was great fun. Running isn't, it's rubbish. Now, I don't care about calories, I just want to improve my stamina. I think the hard part (for people who don't like to be at their limit) is to overcome this sort of "starting period" where it requires just so much effort and it doesn't seem efficient. So what I expect is: If I manage to run 5k at a reasonable pace one day, I might get hooked because I can just go for a run knowing I'll complete it without much effort, so I can enjoy it more. And without any goals after 5k or maybe 10k, right now that doesn't interest me. Cycling (commuting) is something I've done my whole life, so it makes a lot of sense that it's easier for me and I don't have to put in much work to be fast. And I like moving fast, that's the other thing, it's a lot of fun to have the world fly by. However, you cover so much distance and as you said, you'll need more time so in this regard, running seems like the better choice for me. I don't know what I'm going to do, I just know that I don't want to give up. Like, I don't want to accept that this is it and I'll never enjoy running, that just can't be true, so I'll have to try again.
Can confirm, running sucks! it destroy my legs! Two days ago I did 6km with a 6:15 pace for the first time in two years and it was pretty exhausting, I'm still trying to recover.
Cyclist here: A 5km run is about the extent of my ambitions. It is nice to change things up a bit, and it helps me learn to tolerate a higher heart/breath rate. Short runs can be good and pleasant. But after that? Nah, bicycle all the way. I am a chronic under-eater. I do NOT need to burn more calories. I can't carry as much. I can't go as far. I can't use it to replace a car. I sweat more. And it is harsher on my knees. Bicycle fixes all those problems. OR.... if I'm on foot, I want to hike. Not run. Because then I can load my backpack with snacks on the way in, and rocks on the way out. Plus the local runners near me run in the bike lane when they have a sidewalk, and then they try to push me into adjacent car traffic. Go step on a Lego, then fall butt first on a pineapple. Sidewalks are for foot traffic, not the bike lane. I'll share the bike lane only when you don't have a sidewalk - then we're both screwed by the cars and have to be same-team.
I started running 6 months after getting back into cycling. Ollie has it right. The aerobic ability really lets you make your legs sore in short order. All those atrophied running muscles hurt, lol
The biggest pro for running for me is that I don't mind the rain. Cycling in the rain, that's rubbish. And of course, running is very accessible, you only need somewhat ok shoes. (which admittedly is also a downside since most people have never learned how to run properly)
Rants endlessly about running and how hard it is, how it causes injuries and how boring it is to run and how he hasn’t run for a decade, then proceeds to casually run a sub 25 min 5 k without even breathing hard in a zone 2 HR. 🤯
Running for a bicyclist is not bad. You can be better in the finish of a bicycle race if you done some running. It will make the calves stronger and those you use when you want to beat the other before the finish line.
My physio banned me from running, so I'm actually quite jealous. But as someone who ran at a high level before I took up cycling, running is just a case of waiting for the next injury.
Running is good for your bone density which cycling is awful for. Doing a bit of running is vital for anyone whose main form of exercising doesn’t involve ground contact.
If you run with the right shoes for you, and with good form, you should never get injured baring accidents. Consider the number of juries, and how much more serious they can be on a bike! Same thing there. I know many people who injure their knees, back, undercarriage with improperly set up bikes. Also, running actually makes you a better cyclist!
Running has transcended my cycling. It just built much much more muscle especially the cores. A general myth is running will injure your knees your joints you muscles... This is a YES and a NO. In short term yes it will make your body hurts everywhere, usually from where it's weakest. But in the long term your body is live tissue including the bones and tendons, it will build itself and become stronger. Where there be pain before will be pain free and you'll find it cured your joint problems. From where I started running I'm already a OK cyclist (320W 20 minutes power). But I just can't run 3K. It's like in the video the cardio is idle in zone 1/2 but it's either the knee or one side of the abs pain to a point that I can't continue. However I just go back and rest and give it a try another day. To my surprise it just took days for the weakest part to be stronger. Then the next time there will be other part's become the limiting factor or the same part but will sustain longer. During an iteration after an iteration, pain at all of the parts of the body and the stronger, finally I find I can actually run a 5K. Once you can run a 5K, then it will quickly progress to 10K. Once 10K, you'll know you can run a HM. Though it will still be a long time for every 10K to become easy and less stressful. It will be pain at different part of the body still but you know you are just building up muscles. I get the same sore feeling of gym workout after every run for a long time, I myself joked that I don't know running actually built muscle this effectively. Just about 10 month ago I ran my first HM and I'm at 1:32. The biggest up for running is the time efficiency and consistency. Cycling just takes too much preparations and in general for every not-so-beginner cyclist to get a good ride usually will take you at least 3 hours door to door, not to include the pre and after clean up. It's just unrealistic to do it everyday unless you are a retired senior. You just don't do a 20 km "warm-up" ride after all of this. For someone the trainer is the answer to that but I just don't like trainer at all. So running is my answer. Subjectively running feels very much like sustained mountain climbing, so unless you just live at the foot of some good big climb, running will give you much better training for the time spent. That also means you can do it everyday, like you do a iconic climbing everyday, that kind of consistency just means a completely different level of fitness. So ironically even after a year with not so much riding, I get faster.... However I have promoted this to a lot of people around me but just nobody believes... Especially elderlies they just don't seem to think the tissue will repair themselves at all. Plus with running you'll unlock the aero position quite easily because the unlocked hamstring and all the cores. Hope everyone lucky enough to see this will just give it a try. Just remember, patience. I looked back and my starting consists of a lot of 1.x, 2.x 3.x km runs, separated by 1-2 days, for about 3-6 months till the point that I find "I can run". So it will be a long journey and the payback is worth the effort.
Running as hard, that’s why people don’t like it. Kind of like pull-ups. I don’t really like running all that much. I just like having the ability to run. And ss far as calorie burn goes it burns more calories in a shorter amount of time than anything else I’ve done. One of the things I really like about running is you can take it anywhere.
Can we get a triathlon team race? Give the global network teams X amount of time and than do a race. You can mix the teams (1 triathlon/1road/1mtb) or do roadies vs mtb vs cameracrew? :P
I used to be like Ollie but then I got hit by a car. Now I'm a runner lol. I always felt like I had a target on my back as a cyclist, but I never feel that as a runner
When i started training for my first marathon i thought i hated running soo much, it turns out i didn't hate running i hated being out of shape and not being able to run well. 1 marathon and 3 ultra's later im addicted to running lol.
Ollie, cycling hurts too! Haha Cycling is fun, but running is the purest form of exercise! The problem with cycling is the very repetitive, simple motion. I think the lesson is, it's stupid to only do one kind of exercise.
It’s strange… Ollie didn’t wear socks yet the triathlete did. Anyway, as a Grand Master aged cyclist I find one run a week is extremely beneficial. I’m not fast and at times I’ll walk a bit during but always look forward to it.
I guess it's the analog of Connor's stuffing his face with a 9000 kcal breakfast: everyone at GCN has to go through some kind of ordeal once in a while. But nobody is as good as Ollie in communicating just how much he enjoys the experience (i.e., not at all).
